Case Study

Literature

Labour pledge to bring insulation to 5m draughty houses

23rd September 2014

Should the Labour Party come to power following the 2015 general election, they would implement policies that would see five million draughty homes up and down the country insulated.It is hoped that such an approach would serve to save the average family up to £270 a year on their energy bills.Shadow energy secretary Caroline Flint is set to make this pledge as part of a speech at the party's autumn conference, which is being hosted in Manchester today (September 23rd), the Guardian reports.This is exactly one year to the day since the party's promise to freeze energy bills for 18 months if Ed Miliband becomes prime minister from next year.Ms Flint argued the main reason energy bills are so high in the UK is that the properties they power are among the least energy efficient in Europe, leaking heat from their roofs, walls and windows."That's why Labour has set out plans to freeze energy bills, reform the energy market and upgrade at least five million homes over ten years," she commented, adding: "Our plans will mean cheaper bills and warmer homes for millions."A total of five new policies will be outlined by the minister, all of which are designed to deliver permanent savings on energy bills and building on the temporary freeze.In addition to the upgrades for five million homes, plans were unveiled for a million interest-free loans for DIY improvements to help lower energy bills.This is a stark contrast to the government's green deal, which carries high repayment costs.Personalised home energy reports for half a million households a year is another of the new policies, as well as a new target for landlords to get cold and leaky properties up to a higher standard.This comes in the wake of Mr Miliband's recent announcement to introduce new powers that would see construction of new homes also bolstered.